Journal lubricator



March 21, 1939. R. w. MILLER JOURNAL LUBRICATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet l Filed March 17, 1936.

ttoz nage R. W. MILLER A JOURNAL LUBRICATOR Filed March 17, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 atto: mw

March 2l, 1939. R. w. MILLER 2,150,935

JOURNAL LUBRICATOR Filed March 17, 1936 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 l 4? lll @10W/mm,

March 21, 1939. R, w, MILLER 4 sheets-sheet 4 Filed March 17, 193s gmc/nto@ Patented Mar. 21, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,150,935 JOURNAL LUBRICATOR Rudolph W. Miller, Winona, Minn. Application man, iosa, serial No. 69,394

4 Claims. (Cl. 308-48) at 2| and 22. Since the transverse partitions I The invention relates to journal lubricators for railway car journals and has as an object the provision of a lubricator pressed against a surface of the journal radially by a mass o! resilient material reacting between an absorptive pad in contact with the journal and the bottom of the journal box.

It is a further object of the invention to provide means for applying sumcient light pressure of the pad over substantially its entire area against the journal.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a resilient mass reacting against a pad and having absorptive means projecting from the pad through the body of the mass to dip into oil in the bottom of the journal box.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings showing illustrative embodiments of the invention,

and wherein:-

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a journal box showing a journal in elevation with the lubricator in place;

Fig. 2 isa vertical transverse section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of the structure of the lubricator shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 4 is an end view4 of the lubricator removed from the box, seen from the left of Fig. l;

Fig. 5 is a front end view partly broken away of a different form of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section on line 3-6 of Fig. 5; 'f

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the structure of Fig. 5 with the absorptive pad removed;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view o! the absorptive pad of Figs. 5 and 6 removed from the resilient material;

Fig. 9 is a transverse section of a still further form oi the invention;

Fig. 10 is a longitudinal section of the structure of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a transverse section of a still mrther form of the invention;

Fig. 12 isl a section on line I2--I2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 13 is a section on line I3--I3 of Fig. 1.

As shown in Figure 1, the journal box is indicated at I5, the journal at IB, and the lubricator indicated generally by I1.

As shownin Figures 1 to 4 inclusive, the lubricator comprises an absorptive pad I8 oi a size to extend partially around the journal and preierably formedl of ielt.

To press the pad I3 against the journal box, the resilient mass is shown as formed of a plurality of ,partitions I9 arranged longitudinally and transversely to produce a plurality of cells 20, there being provided end walls for the cells extend upwardly to the point 23 and are presented edgewise toward the journal, there will be provided a radial pressure at all points upon the absorptive mass I8 relative to the journal to press the pad thereagainst. The edges of the outer surface of the resilient mass are desirably formed to extend over the edges of the pad as at 24, 25, to prevent the pad from shifting by attractive force of the Journal.

As shown in Figure 3 at 26, certain of the cells of the resilient mass are inset from others thereof to provide passage of oil to the bottom of the journal box about the sides of the lubricator. To provide for passage of oil from one cell 20 to the next,openings 21 are desirably formed in the partitions I9. To seal the opening 28 in the journal box about the journal, which opening is left for the passage of the enlarged head 29 of the journal into the box, there is shown an arcuate plate 30 secured to the end lof the resilient mass and passing upwardly as shown to the point 3i, see Figure 2, above the region where oil may be expected toleak out of vthe box.

II is soft rubber and desirably sponge rubber, it

being understood that all of the partitions I9 and walls 2|, 22 are formed of this material. The plate 30 may be of the same material or of solid partially vulcanized rubber.

To conduct oil to the pad I8 from the bottom of the box, the same is desirably formed with a rib 34 extending through a slot 35 in the body of the mass. An emcient 'construction for the pad and rib 34 is that shown in Figure 2 where portions of the pad and rib are integral, as will be obvious.

In the form of Figures 5 to 8 inclusive, the

rib 34 is replaced by projections 36 and in this form of the invention the slot 35 is replaced by separate slots 31 for passage of the ribs 36. In this form of the invention certain of the ribs I9 of the resilient mass are shown in Figures 5 and 6 as being united to the ribs 36 by ties 38. In the form of Figure 11, a coil spring 39 is shown surrounding a rib 36 to supplement the action of the rubber resilient mass at the bottom of the bo which is -the point of greatest need of resilience.

In the form of the invention of Figures 9 and l0, the resilient mass is shown in the form of a plurality of springs 40 disposed radially of the pad I8 and housed in casings 4I of absorptive material which conduct oil from the bottom of the box tothe pad I8'. f

'Ihe mass in any form of the invention being 1 exceedingly soft and resilient may be compressed for introduction into the iournal box to enable the same to be flexed and slipped under the journal and because of its softness and flexibility, the pressure againstthepadwillnotbeexcessivebut will be uniform through substantially its entire area.

A diiculty with a lubricator using a preformed pad as an oil applicator, particularly where any dust or dirt gains access, is that the journal contacting surface becomes glazed and therefore is sealed so as to prevent passagev of oil through the glazed surface. To prevent such sealing, the surface of the pad. il is desirably broken up into ridges or nngers. This may be accomplished in the manner shown in Figure 6 by formation of a large number of recesses or perforations, as in the journal contacting surface, which may be produced. for example, by use of drills and desirably completely penetrate the pad. Alternatively, the surface may be treated in the manner illustrated in Figures 9 and 10 wherein intersect- Aingsaw kerfs Il are shown. 'Ihe latter expedient may be applied omitting the kerfs transverse 'to the axis of the journal and forming only parping forwardly in the box and from twisting laterally,thereisshownin1'igures1andl2arod or bar 4I having nuts l bearing cutting members 4I at their ends, and retained by lock nuts II.

Projecting downwardly from bar is a bar or rod il projecting past the end of the lubricator,

as shown in Figure 1.

The felt Il is provided with a flat rod Il projecting a major portion of its length as shown in Figure 1 and formed of sections pivotally united by pins 52. The flexibility of the rod is necessary in order that the same may bend with the lubricator when the device is slipped into an existing journal box. The rod Il being flattened will prevent twisting of the lubricator if the rod itself is held from twisting. To this end, the rod is shown as projecting into a slot in the lower end of the bar Il and desirably is pinned therein as by pin 53.

To hold the rods Il and li and therefore the lubricator from moving forwardly in the box, a rod Il is shown welded to the rod Il and being threaded is provided with a nut 5I and *lock nut il similar to the nuts 4l, 41,7". When the lubricator has been slipped into place with the bar I2 therein, the rod Il is mnn'ed or slipped over the end of bar Il, and the nuts 4I, ll expanded to cause them tov bite into the inner surface of the box. Also the nut Il is screwed outwardly so as to cause the same to impinge upon the end of the box as shown in Flgurel. The lubricator will thus be firmly held in its proper position.

1n Figure s is snowisnher form or structure for causing the seal Il to belpressed against'v the margin of the opening through which the hub 20 is-inserted into the box. As there shown, the portions Il, Il are free of the mass of rubber making up the spring portion of the lubricator.

Anchored in the rubber of the mass are metal springs Il, Il which press the naps of the sealing 9,1 sopas member ll tightly against the end wall of the journal box about the said opening. If necessary these springs allow the portion l1 or i8 of the sealing member Il to flex when the lubricator is being installed or removed from the box.

In the form of the invention of Figures 9 and 10, the springs 4I are shown as formed of a continuous wire from alternate ends of each spring to the next end, and the ends of the wire adjacent the back of the lubricator may be turned upwardly at portion 0i and then downwardly at portion 02 so as to abut the sealing member It' andresilientiy press the same against the margins of the opening through which the journal is introduced into the box.

An additional sealing means is shown in Figures 1 and 13. Instead of the usual seal, there is shown a wooden seal having an annular groove u in which is seated an annulus of ilexible material, as felt. The ring of felt is desirably formed slightly less in internal diameter than the outer diameter of the end 29 of the journal, so that when the journal is forced through the opening in the felt it will be slightly flexed, as shown in Figure 1, and thus caused to form a tight seat with the axle.

It is found that material such as feit'if oiled initially will not wear through long service, whereas the usual wooden seal rapidly becomes worn so as to fail to exclude dust, and the access of dust to the journal bearing is a potent cause of the formation of glaze and of interference with lubrication.

Minor changes may be made in the physical embodiments pf the invention within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit thereof.

I claim:

1. A journal lubricator comprising, in combination: an absorptive pad to contact with the surface of a journal; a resilient mass comprising sponge rubber acting in compression between the bottom of a journal box and said pad to press the surface of said journal; and abmrptive means engaging said pad and extending through said mass to dip into oil in the journal box.

2. A journal lubricator comprising, in combination: an absorptive pad to contact with the surface of a journal: a resilient mass comprising cells surrounded by resilient rubber partitions having their edges directed toward the surface of the journal and by end closures, one parallel with the surface of said pad and one contacting the.

4. A journal lubricator comprising, in combina-L tion: an absorbent pad to contact the surface of a journal and resilient means to press said pad intosuch contact; a sealing flap carried by the lubricator to cover the margin of the journal receiving opening of a journal box; and resilient means carried by the lubricator to press said flap against said margin.

RUDOLPH W. MILLER. 

